Chapter 31

"Alright."

In this sparring match, both of them used the dojo's ordinary real swords.

Luo En held his blade in a single hand.

Zoro, on the other hand, held a blade in both hands and even had one clenched in his mouth, striking a sword stance that looked somewhat strained and labored.

"So this is your Three-Sword Style, huh."

Luo En gazed at him with a faint smile and said, "Looks like you still haven't mastered it."

"S-s-stop nagging!"

Zoro bit down on his sword hilt, staring fixedly at Luo En.

"Come on."

Luo En gestured for him to make the first move.

Zoro didn't stand on ceremony either. He knew his own strength was beneath Luo En's, and if he didn't go all out from the very start, he'd likely be defeated in no time.

He immediately stamped his foot and charged straight at Luo En.

Clang!

The instant their blades met—

Zoro's eyes flew wide open. It felt as though he'd crashed head-on into an incomparably hard, immovable wall of steel!

The assault of all three blades was parried with the barest effort. No matter how hard Zoro pushed, that single sword didn't budge an inch!

"Your body's still got a ways to go, Zoro."

Luo En said with a smile at the Zoro standing before him, then swept his long blade in a casual arc.

The speed was so fast Zoro couldn't even make out the blade itself.

All three blades—the two in his hands and the one in his mouth—were sent flying.

Zoro stood there trembling, hands shaking, staring blankly at Luo En, his eyes glazed.

Although he clearly understood that the gap in strength between him and Luo En was huge…

He never imagined it could be this enormous…

It was simply…

Utterly hopeless—no chance to fight back at all!

Zoro clenched his fists, bit down hard on Yaguan, and hot tears welled and churned in his eyes.

"See you on the Grand Line someday, Zoro."

Luo En walked past him, blade still in hand.

Zoro raised his arm and held it across his eyes.

Unwilling to accept it!

Why, after a whole year, was he still this weak?!

Just as Luo En was about to step out of the courtyard—

Zoro's voice rang out behind him.

"Next time… the next time we meet on the Grand Line… I swear, I swear I won't be this weak anymore!"

"Luo En, I will definitely surpass you!"

Luo En's footsteps merely paused for a beat. He said nothing.

【PS: Begging for flowers, ratings, and collections!!!!!!!!!! On the first of the month, on my knees begging for a monthly ticket!!!!!!!】

23. The Two Who Left Together (3/5)

The next day.

A disciple rushed into the dojo, his face flustered, and the moment he stepped through the gate he shouted:

"Master, there's a guy with a ridiculously huge face at the outer gate!"

Koshiro, who had been instructing a student in swordsmanship, immediately understood at the words. A smile broke across his face. "Looks like they've arrived."

"Umi, go call Luo En over."

"Oh, yes sir."

Koshiro walked out of the dojo with Luo En, who had packed his belongings and had the famed blade Lei Qie slung across his back.

"Yo, Koshiro, it's been a while!"

Outside the dojo, a very tall person with an enormous face, wildly huge deep-purple afro, and rather outlandish clothing waved at Koshiro as he called out.

The instant Luo En laid eyes on him, he was certain of his identity.

A commander of the Revolutionary Army, a user of the Horm-Horm Fruit, Emporio Ivankov—nicknamed the "Strongest Okama King."

He glanced at Koshiro beside him, hardly expecting that the friend he'd mentioned would turn out to be a commander of the Revolutionary Army.

Koshiro and Luo En walked up to stand before Ivankov.

"Who's this little brat?"

Ivankov looked down at Luo En and asked curiously.

"A disciple of my dojo, Luo En. This time I'm planning to entrust him to your ship to set out to sea together."

Koshiro said with a smile.

"Eh?!! A little brat this small wants to set out to sea? Koshiro, you can't be serious."

Ivankov's eyes went wide, his expression exaggerated, his voice dripping with disbelief.

Compared to Ivankov's massive frame, Luo En was pitifully tiny—his height wasn't even as long as the diameter of Ivankov's head.

"Haha, I'm not joking. Luo En may be young, but his strength is absolutely nothing to scoff at."

Koshiro said with a chuckle.

"Is that so?"

Ivankov stared at Luo En, his face full of suspicion.

"Fine, for your sake, I'll take him along for a stretch. But let me say this up front — at the next island I'm putting him off the ship. Whether he lives or dies after that is none of my business."

"No problem. Speaking of which, have you prepared the food supplies on your ship? Do you need me to…"

"Of course I do. What else would you think I came all this way to find you for?"

Ivankov said, eyes wide.

"…"

Koshiro scratched his head and said helplessly, "I'll go back and have my disciple deliver the food."

After Koshiro left.

Ivankov looked down at Luo En: "Kid, how old are you?"

"I don't have to tell you."

Luo En turned his head away and said.

That guy's appearance was genuinely a bit nauseating.

"Wahahaha, quite the little punk with personality."

Ivankov laughed loudly.

"Hey, how about becoming an okama?"

"Absolutely not."

The two of them, one big and one small, walked one behind the other.

Behind them, behind a tree.

Kuina, carrying her pack and that Wado Ichimonji, carefully followed behind.

……

Dusk.

Inside the dojo.

"Has the food all been delivered?"

Koshiro looked at the few disciples before him and asked.

"It's all been delivered."

Koshiro nodded.

"Not good! Master!"

An urgent shout came from outside the door, and immediately a disciple rushed in.